The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-09


upon them all" as a natural sequence.
The modern view is apt to be fix
edness of character sealed with an eter-
nal permanence by passing through
that death, which not only the gospel
is but all the analogies of nature teach,
inauguration and TRANSPORTATION. Earth
bound, with our activities centered in
Municipalities, and largely dead to real
life, the cynical remark of Alex. Du-
mas, is measurably true of us all. When
one said, "There is some virtue in
him, too" "Virtuel yes. So there
is in grain of seed in a seedman's
shop, but you must put it in the
ground before you can get any good out
of it." do you mean that he must be
put in the ground before any good can
come out of him ?" Indeed, do. You
may call it burying him, or you may
call it sowing him, as you like; you
must set him in the ground before you
get any good out of him." 1t tallies
with what our Lord said in kindier
spirit, Except a corn of wheat fall into
the ground and die, it abideth alone
but if it die, it bringeth forth much
fruit" John xii. 24) This teaches that
resurrection is not simply resuscitation,
but rejuvenescence; a making young
again, SO far as respects the vigor, buoy
ancy, zest and relish of life peculiar to
youth. 1t is fine thought of Sweden
borg, I'm heaven, the angels are ad-
vancing continually to the springtide
of their youth, so that the Oldest angels
are the Youngest" if not literal, it is
a substantial truth, in effect; in the joy
BUSINESS, the tireless energies, the bound
less aspiration, the clear vision, and in
the enchantment flung over creation,
which are incidental to childhood, in
the life that now is.
We sigh over the past; its vanished
joys; its friends departed; the gladness
that was ours when Life, as opening
buds, was SWEET and say, "Ahl if we
could but be set back with all the old
feelings and blessedness unimpaired,
we would ask no other heaven" But
we need to turn our faces the other
way. It is not setting back, but for
ward to more felicitous re Mobilization,
a walking in newness of life to which
we are called. "TAey that say such
things, declare plainly that they seek
country. And truly if they had been
mindful Of that country from whence
they came out, they might have had OPP
portunity to have returned. But now
they desire better country, that is, an
heavenly" Heb. XII. 14), Now, all this
is inferentially predicted upon the text,
for, observe the resurrection does not
stand by itself, as separate truth, but
is related directly to our Lord.
1t is "Jesus-and the resurrection. y
He is the primary and mainfactor, as it
says in another place, 'He is before all
things, and by him all things consist"
(hold together); so here, as he himself
states it, 81 am the resurrection, and
the life" The State !" echoed Louis
XIV. on one occasion when it had been
spoken of, The State l am the
State !" AS if to say its powers and
functions were gathered up and focal
lied in him. In the supremest sense,
the resurrection and the life, are cen
tered and authenticated in Jesus, not
argued, but demonstrated and imper-
sonated. SIN him was life;" truest, no.
blest, brightest, best life eternal, po-
tential, triumphant, even over death
and the grave. He is the object and
ground of conviction and of confidence.
There are lives so mean and debased
as to suggest depressing doubt as to a
future state; is not man after all as the
beasts that perish; can beings such as
these be other than the creatures OF a
day? But we turn to bright spirits, of
whom the world seems not worthy, and
we are treasured and feel it is impossi-
BILE that such as these have but an
ephemeral existence, destined at last to
sink down into mere earthly clods.
This is resistlessly enforced upon us as
we look to Jesus, fairest among the
sons of men; but more than this in his
supremacy over all the elements of de-
cay and death, as well as of life and
power. L once went into a hospital
ward, and was looking upon the pale,
haggard faces of he inmates, when
suddenly the door opened and in walk
ed the physician with stately tread,
strong, erect, confident, with rudy
cheek and beaming eye; and every sur
ferer turned eagerly to him as to the
coming of healing, strengthening
messenger, who was to grapple with
disease and death itself, and save them
from the destroyer.
Our Lord thus comes into smitten,
sin-sick, disordered world, and, as he
walks the earth, the blind see, the deaf
hear, the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, the dead rise; the widow of
Main clasps her darling in her arms
again; the rulers household ceases to